An integrated volatile organic toxicants sensor with a Bluetooth device interface has been developed. The device is based on novel tuning fork sensor platform along with a wireless communication/interface technology taken in an integrated system approach. It features high sensitivity and selectivity. The sensitivity and selectivity are accomplished through the use of novel tuning fork sensor modified by design (molecularly imprinted) polymers and selective filtering. Experiments have shown that the device can detect toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under high concentrations of common interferents from flavors and fragrances. Applications of the device for detection of BTEX in real-world situations such as outdoor and gas station VOCs have also been demonstrated. All these features make the device a promising candidate to be deployed in real-world applications, particularly in environmental health and air pollution studies.

A wearable monitor that can reliably, accurately and continuously measure personal exposure levels of various toxicants would not only accelerate the current environmental and occupational health and safety studies, but also enable new studies that are not possible with the current monitoring technology. Developing such a monitor has been a difficult challenge, and requires innovative sensing science and creative engineering. We have developed, built and tested a wearable monitor for real-time detection of toxic hydrocarbons and acids in environment. The monitor is low-cost, accurate, and user-friendly. In addition, it can communicate wirelessly with a cell phone in which the monitoring results can be processed, displayed, stored and transmitted to a designated computer. We have validated the functions and performance of the monitor, and carried out field tests with workers involving waste management, fire overhaul, and floor-cleaning activities, as well as with first- and second-hand smokers. The averaged exposure levels are in agreement with those determined by the standard NIOSH methods. The monitor provides accurate and real-time exposure assessment for the workers involving different activities. The real-time and continuous monitoring capability makes it possible to correlate the exposure levels with different activities and changes in the microenvironments. The monitor provides unprecedented real-time information that will help advance occupational safety and environmental health studies. It may also be used to better protect workers from occupational overexposure to toxic molecules.

The paper describes an integtrated sensor system that can selectively and reversibly detect sulfur derivatives in the presence of interferent molecules. This is accomplished by integrating analytespecific sensing materials with optimized filter materials. Microfabricated quartz tuning fork arrays are used to provide fast, accurate and low-cost transduction of the analyte binding events into electronic signals. The concept is demonstrated for detection of three sulfur derivatives -dimethyl disulfide, ethanethiol and methylsulfide.